Not a fan of Urb or Florida in general, but certainly wish him the best with his health.

"You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face." Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic's "Manhunter")

Well I have mixed feelings about this for the only reason it concerns me: next year, USF plays at Florida in what is a huge game for the Bulls. This, along with Tebow graduating, makes it much more feasible that USF wins that game (provided they don't have their own head coaching shake up in store...), but it would have been nice for the team to beat Meyer (for the second time; Urban Meyer is 0-1 in his career against USF! :)). Oh well.

I'm hope it's nothing too serious I guess, but I think if it was we'd have heard about it. I suspect the millions of dollars a year he's been making for several years now will be enough to get him through whatever it is.

I have no idea who Florida goes after now. Charlie Strong would have been the obvious candidate, but I think it would be an awful shitty move to ditch Louisville now - even if it is Louisville. Assuming that doesn't happen ... I don't know where else they look.

You know, I'm probably a bastard for this, but I can't help but wonder what if Notre Dame HAD been able to coax Meyer to take their job instead of Kelly. Dodged a bullet there, perhaps.

- StingArmy

I'll admit my first thought was: Maybe like the Celtics losing the draft lottery that would have landed Greg Oden ended up starting the rise of the Celts, maybe the Luck of the Irish has finally started to return with ND not getting Urban this off-season. That would have just killed the program.I'd think Florida would be crazy not looking at going the Utah route again: Kyle Whittingham has finished #2 in the country, and he has knocked off Alabama.

Here's a few names thrown out there (purely speculative) by ESPN's SEC blogger:

It’s one of the plum jobs in all of college football.

And after the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, it’s going to be open.

Urban Meyer’s stunning resignation for health reasons means somebody has some awfully big shoes to fill at Florida, and it also means that Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley will be conducting his third football head coaching search of the last decade.

Who’s on his short list?

All athletic directors keep a short list of coaching candidates in their top drawer. If not literally, at least figuratively.

You can bet Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops is somewhere on that list, probably near the top. Stoops, the Gators’ defensive coordinator for three seasons under Steve Spurrier, was the top target in 2001 when Spurrier resigned. But he’d only been at Oklahoma for three seasons and felt like he needed to stay put.

After more than a decade at Oklahoma, Stoops may be ready for a new challenge.

Arkansas’ Bobby Petrino is another name to keep in mind. He was on the list when Meyer was hired in 2004.

Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, who served as Meyer's offensive coordinator at Florida until this season, also makes a lot of sense. He knows that program, knows Meyer’s system and is somebody Foley is very familiar with. Mullen also did a good job in Starkville this season, his first as a head coach.

At some point, somebody’s going to pry away Chris Petersen from Boise State. Maybe this is that time. Petersen has had an unbelievable run at Boise State.

Former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan was a candidate in 2001, when Spurrier left, and has a good relationship with Foley. Shanahan coached at Florida in the 1980s as an offensive coordinator, but his next move is probably back to the NFL, possibly the Washington Redskins.

I can't imagine Stoops going to Florida; certainly not for "a new challenge." Maybe I'm underestimating Bob Stoops' desire to move around and see new places.

I don't think Florida would go to Petrino - Gator fans are going to want a guy with more recent and prominent success. Petrino got Louisville to unprecedented heights, but he left the program in shambles and hasn't matched that success at his two jobs in the time since.

Dan Mullen makes a lot of sense. I know Mississippi State only went 5-7 this year, but everything I heard about them suggests they looked good and Mullen appeared to be doing good things. Mississippi State faced the toughest schedule in the country too, I think. He was a part of two UF championship teams, etc.

And I don't know about Chris Peterson. I agree that sooner or later he's going to get a shot at a bigger school (assuming he wants it), but I don't think he's any lock to be as successful at his next job as he has been at Boise State. Boise State has been dominant this decade, I know. But they play in the WAC. I know it's not Boise State or Peterson's fault, but I'm not as impressed with their undefeated season(s) as I am by Cincinnati, Alabama or even TCU. The WAC is a very, very weak conference. That's not saying it's easy to do what Peterson's done, but it's very different from coaching at a very high-profile BCS conference school.

Originally posted by TheBucsFanDan Mullen makes a lot of sense. I know Mississippi State only went 5-7 this year, but everything I heard about them suggests they looked good and Mullen appeared to be doing good things. Mississippi State faced the toughest schedule in the country too, I think. He was a part of two UF championship teams, etc.

Yes, Mississippi State was better than a 5 - 7 team this year. LSU needed a miracle to beat the Bulldogs. Florida looked vulnerable against them and only won by 10. They came pretty close to beating two top 10 teams. They also beat their rivals at Ole Miss pretty soundly, which must have been nice after the hype the Rebels got this year.

As a fan of the Gators, Mullen would definitely be my first choice. Percy Harvin was a great playmaker but I think Florida still had more weapons this year than they got credit for but the loss of Mullen hurt as much as the loss of Harvin.

I guess I'm easier to please than others but after winning two championships in three years, winning a Heisman, having the best player in our school's history and having another really good season this year (even if we didn't meet our ultimate goal) I'm good for four or five years and don't mind if it takes a few years to bounce back (sort of like how I don't mind that our basketball team sucks right now). I expected a dip in performance anyway. Everybody talks about Tebow, but Spikes/Haden/Dunlop are leaving too. That's three first round draft picks on defense.

I wonder if they have any interest in Phillip Fulmer. I don't know, maybe his best years are behind him but I thought he was underappreciated by the Vols there at the end. I can't think of a better way to beat Lane Kiffin. although it might not be a guarantee that we beat them next year.

I nominate these two posts as Best 1-2 Punch Posts of the Year. I lol'd.

Originally posted by QuezzyI guess I'm easier to please than others but after winning two championships in three years, winning a Heisman, having the best player in our school's history and having another really good season this year (even if we didn't meet our ultimate goal) I'm good for four or five years and don't mind if it takes a few years to bounce back (sort of like how I don't mind that our basketball team sucks right now).

Either you are harder on your basketball team than you care to admit or you don't realize you guys are ranked #18 right now. I know it's no back-to-back national championships, but still it's not quite sucky.

Talent wise, Florida is a great job. However, do you really want Meyer lurking over your shoulder should you have a 'bad' season of 8-4 and all of a sudden he feels healthy and the alums are thinking back of the good old days of national titles rather than a Peach Bowl appearance? Like Meyer having Zook between him and Spurrier, it is better to follow the guy following the guy than to be the guy following the guy.

Originally posted by TheBucsFanAnd I don't know about Chris Peterson. I agree that sooner or later he's going to get a shot at a bigger school (assuming he wants it), but I don't think he's any lock to be as successful at his next job as he has been at Boise State. Boise State has been dominant this decade, I know. But they play in the WAC. I know it's not Boise State or Peterson's fault, but I'm not as impressed with their undefeated season(s) as I am by Cincinnati, Alabama or even TCU. The WAC is a very, very weak conference. That's not saying it's easy to do what Peterson's done, but it's very different from coaching at a very high-profile BCS conference school.

I think Petersen would be great and I was hoping the Huskies would get him when they were looking for a coach last year. Boise's beaten Oklahoma, Oregon (twice), and Oregon State while Petersen has been the coach, and just like when he took over at Boise there isn't anything to rebuild at Florida (unlike most of these programs that have been looking for new head coaches lately).

OTOH, Petersen REALLY seems to like Boise, so I would be surprised if he went. This does seem like the perfect job for him, though.

Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....

*snip*

Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus

Brett Favre, I mean Urban Meyer, has apparently had a change of heart (pun intended).http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4774134Well, I guess we all now know what ESPN was going to run as a video package when he died, so something came out of all of this.This has now surpassed Evander Holyfield 15 years ago for the shortest heart related retirement.

All former college coaches employed at ESPN just breathed a sigh of relief. I fully expected ESPN to roll out the red carpet and put Urb either on College GameDay or in the booth next year.

"You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face." Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic's "Manhunter")

Originally posted by TheBucsFanAnd I don't know about Chris Peterson. I agree that sooner or later he's going to get a shot at a bigger school (assuming he wants it), but I don't think he's any lock to be as successful at his next job as he has been at Boise State. Boise State has been dominant this decade, I know. But they play in the WAC. I know it's not Boise State or Peterson's fault, but I'm not as impressed with their undefeated season(s) as I am by Cincinnati, Alabama or even TCU. The WAC is a very, very weak conference. That's not saying it's easy to do what Peterson's done, but it's very different from coaching at a very high-profile BCS conference school.

I think Petersen would be great and I was hoping the Huskies would get him when they were looking for a coach last year. Boise's beaten Oklahoma, Oregon (twice), and Oregon State while Petersen has been the coach, and just like when he took over at Boise there isn't anything to rebuild at Florida (unlike most of these programs that have been looking for new head coaches lately).

OTOH, Petersen REALLY seems to like Boise, so I would be surprised if he went. This does seem like the perfect job for him, though.

Oregon this year, while very good, isn't Florida, Alabama, the Oklahoma team Boise State beat three years ago, etc. And beating Oklahoma in a bowl game is not the same as facing Alabama in with a conference title and national title game berth on the line. Boise State has had some impressive wins - but rarely more than one in a season. Maybe sometimes two. Going to Florida (which is probably a moot point now anyway), he would be facing teams of that caliber at least once or twice per regular season, and often even more than that. Like I said, I don't doubt he'll get the offer to go to a bigger program eventually, if he hasn't already, but I see no guarantee he will be so great. Despite three or four undefeated regular seasons, I don't think anything Chris Peterson has done at Boise State can even compare to what Urban Meyer or Nick Saban have done in their careers. Not even close, really. The WAC really, really sucks.

Hawaii went undefeated in the WAC two years ago despite everyone who knew what they were talking about knowing the Warriors had no business taking up a spot opposite any decent BCS team. And they got exposed big time in the Sugar Bowl. But they were good enough to go undefeated in the WAC.

Originally posted by redsoxnationBrett Favre, I mean Urban Meyer, has apparently had a change of heart (pun intended).http://sports.espn.go.com/​ncf/​news/​story?​id=4774134Well, I guess we all now know what ESPN was going to run as a video package when he died, so something came out of all of this.This has now surpassed Evander Holyfield 15 years ago for the shortest heart related retirement.

If I can be a heartless bastard for a second, I'm not buying that he'll be back. In one day a lot of their top recruits were looking to leave. It was going to destroy their program. So he says he'll maybe try and come back. But his health isn't going to get better, he can only try to manage it, which he hasnt' been able to before.

He says he will try to come back, recruits sign on the dotted line, he retires. Crappy way to think, I know, but it wouldn't shock me. I think they may lose a few top guys either way though. Essentially they are in limbo now. If you're signing with them, will Meyer coach you next year? Any chance he'll last all five years you're there? What happens if not?

Originally posted by redsoxnationBrett Favre, I mean Urban Meyer, has apparently had a change of heart (pun intended).http://sports.espn.go.com/​​ncf/​​news/​​story?​​id=4774134Well, I guess we all now know what ESPN was going to run as a video package when he died, so something came out of all of this.This has now surpassed Evander Holyfield 15 years ago for the shortest heart related retirement.

If I can be a heartless bastard for a second, I'm not buying that he'll be back. In one day a lot of their top recruits were looking to leave. It was going to destroy their program. So he says he'll maybe try and come back. But his health isn't going to get better, he can only try to manage it, which he hasnt' been able to before.

He says he will try to come back, recruits sign on the dotted line, he retires. Crappy way to think, I know, but it wouldn't shock me. I think they may lose a few top guys either way though. Essentially they are in limbo now. If you're signing with them, will Meyer coach you next year? Any chance he'll last all five years you're there? What happens if not?

Come on, I gotta dream. He gave, then he took away. I need this.

Ha, I understand. what you mean As a Gator Hater, I was glad to see Meyer going, though obviously I wouldn't wish any serious illnesses on him...

And I also don't see how he can have done this 180 so quickly. Just yesterday it was best for his health and family that he resign, and that was all he was concerned about. Now ... what? Either his health situation has changed or his priorities have - which is it? That or it's something along the lines of what you've said here.

I just don't buy his reasoning. Your family is most important, but then a day later you talked with your team and were more worried about who would coach them than your family? You can't see yourself coaching anywhere else only a year removed from saying Notre Dame was your dream job? Please.

After this class has signed and can't back out, later this summer he can make his retirement official again, giving the school time to get a new staff in place for next year's recruiting. That's my predicition.

Though the other part of me wants him back, to see what losing all those players combined with FSU putting together a great defensive staff can do against him. Hudson taking a demotion to LB coach stunned me.